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| Helen Kotze obituary | Helen Kotze obituary |
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| My grandmother Helen Kotze, who has died aged 92, was a passionate campaigner in the white South African resistance to apartheid. | My grandmother Helen Kotze, who has died aged 92, was a passionate campaigner in the white South African resistance to apartheid. |
| Born Helen Clegg, she was raised in South Africa, one of four daughters of a Methodist minister. Her childhood memories were of climbing trees, reading books, writing poetry and playing the violin. When she was 20 she met my grandfather, Theo. They married in 1941 and had five children. In 1950 Theo joined the ministry and he served in a number of churches, the last being in Sea Point, Cape Town. | Born Helen Clegg, she was raised in South Africa, one of four daughters of a Methodist minister. Her childhood memories were of climbing trees, reading books, writing poetry and playing the violin. When she was 20 she met my grandfather, Theo. They married in 1941 and had five children. In 1950 Theo joined the ministry and he served in a number of churches, the last being in Sea Point, Cape Town. |
| Helen and Theo worked together at the Christian Institute in Cape Town (where Theo was director) from 1969, and she was a member of the Black Sash anti-apartheid organisation. Helen was of the generation who believed that a woman's role was to support her husband and this she did in every way she could, enabling Theo to become a successful preacher and campaigner while she stayed in the background. Nevertheless, she is remembered as a formidable woman. | Helen and Theo worked together at the Christian Institute in Cape Town (where Theo was director) from 1969, and she was a member of the Black Sash anti-apartheid organisation. Helen was of the generation who believed that a woman's role was to support her husband and this she did in every way she could, enabling Theo to become a successful preacher and campaigner while she stayed in the background. Nevertheless, she is remembered as a formidable woman. |
| In 1977, after Theo was banned by the apartheid government, the decision was made that they should leave South Africa to continue the fight against apartheid from Europe. A dramatic escape from the South African authorities led to a 16-year exile, first in the Netherlands and America, continuing the work of the Christian Institute, and then from 1980 in Britain. Finally, in 1993, Helen and Theo were able to return to South Africa. | In 1977, after Theo was banned by the apartheid government, the decision was made that they should leave South Africa to continue the fight against apartheid from Europe. A dramatic escape from the South African authorities led to a 16-year exile, first in the Netherlands and America, continuing the work of the Christian Institute, and then from 1980 in Britain. Finally, in 1993, Helen and Theo were able to return to South Africa. |
| None of this was easy, as each move resulted in being half a world away from their children and grandchildren. Theo died in 2003 and Helen lived in Cape Town, cared for by her son Michael and his wife, Jenny. | None of this was easy, as each move resulted in being half a world away from their children and grandchildren. Theo died in 2003 and Helen lived in Cape Town, cared for by her son Michael and his wife, Jenny. |
| She is survived by her children, Derek, Michael, David, Jennifer and Stephen, 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. | She is survived by her children, Derek, Michael, David, Jennifer and Stephen, 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. |
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